Improvement in braiding-machines



J. FLETCHER. BRAIDING MACHINE.

' No. 39,138. Patented July '7, 1863.

i E if:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FLETCHER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRAlDlNG-MACHINES. I

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39, [38, dated July 7, 1863.

the same to be'fully described in the follow in g specification, andrepresented in the accompanying drawings, of which-.

Figure 1 is a top view of a racer and the race portion of a braiding-machine, as provided with my invention. Fig. -2'-is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 4 is a side view of the racer. Fig. 5 is a side view of an ordinary racer; Fig. 6 is an under side View of the lapping or recessed plate, to be hereinafter described.

The nature of my invention consists in an improvement in the braiding-machine, such consisting in having the racer and its drivingwheels and the supports of the racer so constructed that the weight of the racer shall be borne on each of the driving-wheels, while suchdriving-wheel may be in the act of driving the racer.

My invention further consists in the combination of a recessed plate, or its equivalent,

with the racer-base and the .driving wheel or gear, such plate being made to overlap the base of the racer, to move with the driving.- wheel, and to prevent the racer from swaying laterally while in motion.

The purpose of my invention is not only to afford a better support tothe racer than it usually has, but also to prevent the bearing and friction of the racer on the top surface or surfaces of the raceway or the race-plates thereof.

In the drawings, A is the race-plates and raceway, while B is the racer. The bottom or lower part of the racer, instead of being a cylindrical stud or projection, as shown ata in Fig. 5, is a flat plate or base, as shown at b in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 7, which is an under side view of such bottom. This fiat bottom or base extends each wayfrom a neck, a, which is to run in the groove or raceway d of the raceplates A. The said flat base b rests on the upper surface of the driving-gear wheel 0. There is a. train .of these gears O which engage with one another, and operate to force the racer through the curved tracks of the raceway. These gears are arranged with re- From the aboveit will be seen that the racer,

by being supported directly on the gear, travels withv it, and does not bear on the top surface or surfaces of the race-plates. In this way the friction and wear of the racer on the upper surfaces of the race-plates are avoided,

and the machineis not only run with less power, but with less friction and more certainty of correct operation.

Iclaim 1. An improvement in the braidingmachine,

the same consisting in having the racer and driving wheels or gears and the supports of the racer so constructed that the weight of the racer shall be borne on each of the said driving-gears while in the act of being driven by such gear.

2. The combination of the recessed plate D, or its equivalent, with the racer-base b and the driving wheel or gear 0, on which such plate is affixed, such plate being for the purpose and to operate in manner substantially as hereinbefore explained.

' JOSEPH FLETCHER. Witnesses:

HENRY MARTIN, HENRY FLETCHER. 

